Fire-alarm



(No Model.)

C. I'.V SGOAPIBLD. PIRE ALRM' Patented Aug. 6,1895.

vl/l//l/ [01W/4111411111111 Y W i' I gasses theirs STATES Farmer CHARLES FOREST SCOFIELD, OF BRIDGEPORT, ALABAMA.

FIRE-ALARM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 543,896, dated August 6, 1895.

Application filed August 16, 1894. Serial No. 520,504. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern.c

Be it known that I, CHARLES Fonnsr Sco` FIELD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bridgeport, in the county of Jackson and State of Alabama, have invented, a new and useful Fire-Alarm, ot' which the following is a specication.

My invention relates to fire-alarm mechanism, and particularly to means for releasing the same when a portion of a building provided with the apparatus is affected by fire; and, furthermore, to provide means, simple and efficient in their construction, for sounding a distinctive alarm, whereby the locality of the outbreak of fire is indicated audibly.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will appear in the following description and Ythe novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the draWings,Figure'l isa diagrammatic representation of a tire-alarm system embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical detail section of the alarm mechanism proper. Fig. 3 is asimilar view at right'angles to the plane of Fig. 2, the same being indicated by line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detail view of the ratchet and detent-lever With its connections.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawlngs.

1 designates aline-wire or connection,which is adapted to be placed in positions which are liable to be exposed to the iniiuence of fire, the same being provided at intervals with fuses 2. These fuses consist, preferably, of links of a suitable fusible metal, and they serve to connect adjacent terminals of sections of the line-wire or connection.

The alarm mechanism proper preferably consists of a drum 3 provided with a spring 4. or other actuating device, said drum being provided with a gear 5, which is connected by and transmits motion through a pinion 6 to an operating-Wheel 7. On the shaft 8 of the pinion 6 is an escapement-wheel 9, with which co-operates an oscillatory escapement-lever 10 provided with an arm 11, which is connected by a branch Wire or connection 12 to the main Wire or connection 1. When the main Wire or connection is taut it holds the arm of the escapement-lever stationary, and by preventing oscillation of said lever maintains the alarm mechanism at rest. When, however, by the melting of a fusible link the main wire or connection becomes loose or slack the strain upon the arm of the escapement-lever is relieved and the alarm mechanism is released. The hammer 13 is arranged in position to strike the gong 14, and its stem 15 is provided with a spring-pressed finger 16 to cause the hammer to strike the gong with effective force when released. The spring for actuating the hammer as above is shown at 17. The operating-Wheel 7 is provided With a series of signal-pins 18, arranged near the periphery of the wheel in position to engage the finger 16 successively to retract the hammer. As each signal-pin releases the finger of the hammer the latter is actuated by its spring and is caused to strike the gong.

Vhen it is desirable to employ apparatus which will give a distinctive signal for each of the various parts or rooms of a building, the same may be accomplished by arranging the signal-pins at varying intervals, whereby the hammer makes a series of successive strokes at short intervals and is then allowed to remain at rest for a longer interval. By varying the number of strokes of each series and the lengths and number of intervals of rest a variety of distinguishable signals may be provided.

Any suitable means for insuring the immediate and positive slackening of the main wire or connection to secure a prompt release of the alarm may be employed; but as this does not form an essential feature of .my invention particular description thereof is unnecessary.

Any suitable means may be provided for winding the drum by which the alarm is actuated, such construction forming no part of my invention.

It will be understood that in practice various changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacriicing the advantages of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- In a fire-alarm mechanism, the combination with a main line wire or connection provided with spaced fusible links or parts, of a springactuated drum, an escapement device opera- IOO ranged in the path ot' said signal pins and 15 adapted to be actuated by its spring t0 strike agong after being moved against the tension of its spring by the Contact of the signal pins with the arm which is arranged in the path thereof, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing asv my own I have hereto affixed my signatu re in the presence of two witnesses.

` CHARLES FOREST seorncLD. Witnesses:

W. F. KIRK, T. R. PATTERSON. 

